Open House Invite

We got our tree tonight and it smells wonderful. To celebrate the smell and the impending snow storm, you're invited over for a cookie and a sniff. The floors will probably not be clean but I bought nog and Addie is going to help the little ones with a craft. 6-8pm December 8th. Come come come.

Hiking and Water Fun Hawaii Part 3 (can you stand one more?)

On our first full day we ended up doing about a 4 hour hike [Kalalau] along the mountainous coast of Na Pali. It was tough one but we were rewarded with the amazing beach, Hanakapiai. Worth it, ohh, my finger.... We rented a kayak for a day on the Wailua River. The water was slow and brown but the experience was tropical and relaxing. We paddled and then hiked...to secret Falls, which apparently is not really a secret. Can you see James waving? We swam around behind it and I felt adventerous. We also saw a wild pig and her piglets. This face is the the reason I love James Mair. He's hilarious. We went to this huge beach (Polihale State Park) to watch the sun set and possibly swim. A storm rolled in just as we did. The sun set was still pretty despite the grains of sand needling our legs. We did not swim.Dinner at a very overpriced "Brick Oven". Nothing like the Provo's Brick Oven but we were starving and we at the whole thing!
Hiking on the Na Pali "fingers", the big ridges that go out to sea.
This is Ke'e beach on our last night, the most calm and beautiful place in Hawaii. We swam, ate a wrap from Hot Mamma's, spied a turtle head popping out of the water, and watched the sun sink. It was heaven. James is trying not to laugh...but I insisted on the picture because the lighting was good.

A Helicopter Ride Hawaii Part 2

I'm always quick to point out the over the top nature of things; I have frugal roots and cheap tendencies. So I'm pointing out the extreme luxury of a trip to Hawaii, and now the most over the top (unbelievable) thing we've ever done...flying in a helicopter to see the parts of Kauai you can't see from a car.The "Jurassic" Falls. The Na Pali coast...are there words folks?
My words, over the top! I kind of wish I had a better camera--

Some more links for you. James used betterbidding.com's forum to find out what hotels were in the "resort" category for Kauai. Only three, The Hyatt, Sheraton, and Marriott. The forum also has a calender where bidders can post what they "won" and for how much. We thought this might be an option so we watched the bids and saw winners get rooms for around $100-110 a night. We could have done it a little cheaper but "on the beach" and "ambiance" speak when once in a life time rolls around right? We also used the forum to watch rental cars and for $15 a day, a (Ahem freshly out) compact was ours!

We bought the "Happenings" or Hawaii Entertainment book bought off Ebay. It had coupons for the Polynesian Cultural Center [two for the price of 1 show ticket], Priceline [$10 off a night] and The Dole Plantation [Pineapple Ice Cream Cone 2fer].

We used this book: The Ultimate Kauai Guide Book, Kauai Revealed. We took our library's copy but it was the 5th edition. One restaurant we tried to find was gone. Since James was driving I read the book, cover to cover. The hikes, beaches and food recommendations were right on.

James read this blog every day before we went: http://www.govisithawaii.com/ I now read it everyday since we've returned. shameless...

Paradise anyone? Hawaii Part I

I'm pretty amazed that we got to go on a trip like this. No, It's not usual daily fare for us or even an annual thing. This was happenstance that came true.

It all started more than a year ago when my seester, Vanessa, called with a proposition: would you like to trade a week of he]] for a week of heaven? Her 4 kids for a week in exchange for mine? She was planning a week long hiking trip to the Wind Rivers, pictures here,--we would just need to decide what backpacking trip we were going to do.

Later we debated: could Hawaii be an option? I'll include some links at the end but with the help of the internet (for which I'm shamefully addicted to) we jetted, enjoyed, relaxed and returned (all while avoiding the H1N1).

Oahu was nice and we did every touristy thing all in about 16 hours. Well we were up at 4:30--not quite used to the time difference. Hanauma Bay
USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl HarborA Swap Meet
The Dole PlantationThe Polynesian Cultural Center (Samoans climbing a Coconut tree)A Lu'au, (real flowers) the visitor's center at the temple that's under renovation, and the PCC's night show.

We then flew to Kauai where we stayed, get this, at the Marriott. Yes, me, at the Marriott, like it happens all the time. The Marriott on Kalapaki beach, with a 26,000 sq ft pool. Remember, we were going to go back packing... the trip was charmed...Our recently renovated room. Fresh out of compacts-- Alamo let us take a convertible. Yes, us, in a convertible, riding around Kauai, staying at the Marriott...

Kauai is green and smells and feels tropical. It's rural compared to Oahu and small enough to drive almost around it in about 2 hours.James at Poi'pu beach our first night. We weren't even thinking sunsets so when this showed up, we started planning the nights around them. We even tried surfing. Lessons would have been nice.

We used farecast.com (it's now bing) to email us of when to buy plane tickets. There were two days back in June where round trip to Oahu was $270. Shamefully addicted I tell you. I'll post more soon.

Happy Halloween

Success!

All the costumes were done by Wednesday, three days early! A new record!

Introducing: Charlie Brown,A 50's girl,Monkey Boy,And Lady.A new shift on carving pumpkins and mind you I've been married 11 years. The most resourceful James Mair can carve! He found creative and intricate templates from the internet that did not disappoint. I forgot to document--but I will next year.

We trick or treated at Grandma's house,and headed home to eat tatter tots (requested by Ben).I'm not used to the later in the year switch to day light savings time (yet--it's been three years right?) but we were ready a little after 5. When I was a kid--that was the time to be ready to leave for the maximum time allowed for a trick-or-treating candy haul. It was still warm and sunny at five! So we snapped pictures and played around with Bevan and Donna. Stuart collected for more than an hour!And everyone returned home, pumpkins heavy and so tired. Even too tired to sort. And Paige. Remember two years ago she had her sick station? This year she burned her fingers on the tatter tot pan. With tears, band aids, and Daddy she powered through.

As far as raiding the loot, I'm guilty--no Sugar Babies or Good and Plenty though. And after eating pretty lean for an up coming Hawaiian adventure, I held my candy well. I also shoveled down Marie Callendar pie, thanks to the trick or treating David Michelson aka Jedi Knight (41 years and he hasn't miss a year yet--oh except for one of the years on his mission).

It was a glorious weather day, festive holiday and perfect. How is it that my life is this good? Happy End of Fall to all.

Miss Strassburg

I attended the General Women's Conference in downtown Salt Lake on Saturday night and my experience was two fold.

First--that Julie Beck, is one amazing teacher and leader. How many times did she mention "faith based work"? Being reminded about that, and the calling I have to be a visiting teacher/friend to those in my ward, it was all I could do not to take bread, make running dates, and plan ambushes to see them. I'm shooting for 100% but of course I'm focusing on my people, not percentages.

Second--While leaving I rode the escalator with Miss Strassburg. She had been in my thoughts lately as a person I'd like to someday thank for making a lasting impression--but how?--she was my junior high choir teacher, long retired and originally from New York. And all of a sudden, there she was, hugging me, asking about marriage, kids, my family/siblings, my parents. What could I do but ride down and tell her that she should have had a party when she retired because I would have come.
She's still amazing. Since retirement she did a 5 year personal family history mission, worked as a personal assistant to an entrepreneur, and now does church service in various forms such as direct choirs for the church--all over. Vanessa, I told her you saw her at your regional conference. She was happy you were so happy to see her. She said West Lake (my junior high) kids are spread out all over the world! And that the Lord always sends one when she needs it, "I must have needed it tonight," she said.
She did some amazing things as my teacher. One She made me feel like I was her favorite, and she was counting on me to pull the choir through and make her day by doing my best. She made everyone feel this way...everyone. Two She directed musicals ever year that were HUGE. Three She let a group of us groupies eat lunch in her office/classroom every day of my ninth grade year. She called us "the lunch bunch". She threw a party at her apartment and invited the lunch bunch to eat ice cream and go to the MoTab Christmas concert with her--a short walk away, she's in the same ward as the prophet... Four She pretty much kept me singing and hopeful all through Jr. High!


Where can I find one of her for Addie, Ben, Paige, & Stuart when they're entering puberty?


I taught 6th grade for a year and lunch was my salvation.


Jr. High teachers like her are one in a million--no--in this world. So thank you Miss Jennifer Strassburg for seeing me (last night and 23 years ago). Saturday night I went and felt the spirit of Jesus Christ throughout the meeting and while leaving I meant one who has served and embodied Him her whole life and I felt whole.

I can't find my camera and I'm paralyzed!

New niece Abigail Bethani arrived.

Had a bike fitting.

Sharon and Seth came to town.

We played at the Gateway water fountain.

I swapped food.

I crafted at Super Saturday--even taught the class.

With games, birthdays and a round of Grandma Christy's STAR BELLY Sneetches, I was ready to report on it all. But alas no photos and...........that was last week!

This week has been a ton of just house support, online shopping, and more preschool organization. The only thing I can offer you in this post is a birthday present idea. You know, the friend birthday parties that sneak up--even if the invitation is delivered a full week before--all of a sudden-- it's the day and what do you give for a present? I got this one from Family Fun--but a trip to McDonalds of course. Now the original idea was a play date to something fun, riding horses, go carts, pedicures..... but for my kids, Happy Meals with a toy has never had more appeal. And so this summer I printed this no less than FOUR times: and last night I cashed them all in--four friends, my four and choices, choices, choices.
Birthday Presents check
Dinner check
Bishopric night check
Economical check

and most of all fun.